How Queensland Pathways State College is getting troubled teenagers back on track

Braith, 17, had a track record of trouble as long as your arm until he arrived at a place that is turning conventional schooling on its head.

Queensland Pathways State College has put students Braith and Tariq back on track. Photo Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Racking up a record 13 pages of complaints of misbehaviour, detentions and suspensions, 17-year-old Braith went off the rails at his mainstream high school.

“I was just running amok,’’ the Brisbane teenager said yesterday.

“I was trying to impress people. I was suspended and had periods of expulsion.’’

Braith has turned his life around after graduating this week from the Queensland Pathways State College, and is looking for work as an apprentice butcher or bricklayer.

His classmate Tariq, a 16-year-old Aboriginal student, came to Pathways after missing 265 days of Year 8 and 9 at his last high school.

“I haven’t missed a day since I came here, and it makes me feel good,” he said yesterday.

As governments across Australia grapple with rising rates of truancy,classroom disruption and youth crime, the Pathways school offers a blueprint to get troubled teens back on track.

The school’s motto is “every student succeeding’’ – and the only rule is “respect’’.

Students from Years 11 or 12 spend a year catching up on mathematics and English in small classes of 10, with one-on-one mentoring from teachers and guidance counsellors who liaise with health professionals.

Braith found the teachers made him feel welcome, rather than unwanted.

“Now I’ve got more of an open mind, I’m more compassionate towards people and I do less swearing,’’ he said.

“The people around me here push me to be my very best, and make me feel welcome.’’

Principal Kristie de Brenni said most students have struggled with disadvantage or dysfunction.’’

Queensland Pathways State College principal Kristie de Brenni with student Jager and graduate Ruby. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

“There may be domestic violence, there may be some significant trauma, (some) have been abandoned by parents, they’re homeless or couch-surfing or have significant mental health issues,’’ she said.

“Some come from a perfectly well-supportive family but … they’ve got anxiety and depression.

“But each one of them, no matter their background, is supported here to engage and to learn and to be successful.

“We have an unconditional positive regard for all the students who come here – if they’ve had a bad day, or a bad night before, they can re-set and come back the following day.

“We’re here to wrap support around them, and get them through.

The college takes in 220 teenagers aged 15 to 17, and shepherds them through the final years of high school and into jobs or further education.

Students are taught intensive lessons in English and mathematics, combined with first-aid certificates and vocational qualifications in health services, retail or tourism and hospitality.

Kylie Spann, head of department and principal Kristie de Brenni, prepare food with students and talk about how the school got them back onto the right track, at the Coorparoo campus, in Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Guidance counsellors coach the students in workplace skills and job interviews, and teachers liaise with health professionals to ensure student wellbeing.

The YMCA supplies breakfast and the students make their own salads and sandwiches in the school kitchen – sometimes their healthiest meal of the day.

Classmate Harry knuckled down to finish Year 12 and is looking for work after graduating from Pathways this week.

Before enrolling in Pathways, the 16-year-old had switched schools 12 times.

“I had a lot of suspensions,’’ he said.

“It’s more welcoming here – when I used to move schools, if you did something wrong they would just suspend you instead of working with you on your mistakes.’’

Queensland Pathways State College students Tariq, Ruby, Harry, Braith and Jager. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Seventeen-year-old Jager dreams of a career as a real estate agent, after a traumatic family event sent him adrift at his mainstream school.

“I wasn’t focused on my schoolwork,’’ he said.

“Ever since I’ve come here, I’ve wanted to graduate (from Year 12).

“I have great teachers and I’ve met very good friends here – it’s more meaningful here.’’

Ruby, 17, graduated from Pathways last year and is now working as a retail assistant, saving to travel the world before studying in a medical field at university.

Graduate Ruby, 17, is planning a career in the health field. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

She started skipping school in Year 10 when her father was being treated for cancer.

“I didn’t want to deal with the conflict with teachers so I started not going to school,’’ she said yesterday.

“A girl at work told me about Pathways and everything changed.

“You get to talk to the teachers, and you really get the respect you deserve instead of getting treated like a child.

“I really came out of my shell and I’ve done a lot of growing up.’’